Wade Claims Players Championship Hat-Trick

JAMES WADE picked up his third Players Championship win of 2008 with victory in Sunday's PartyPoker.net Dutch Darts Trophy.

The world number three claimed the £5,000 title following a final-leg shoot-out in the final against Mark Walsh, in a repeat of their meeting in the Scottish Players Championship final last month.

Walsh had two darts to claim the victory himself, but missed at double top and double ten let Wade back in for the win.

Wade had trailed twice, with Walsh winning the first set thanks to a 104 checkout in the deciding leg and then taking the third 2-0.

Wade, who had edged the second set, took out two-dart finishes of 100 and 96 to win set four, and came from behind to square the deciding set of the final.

A missed double top for a 120 finish allowed Walsh in needing 65 in the final leg, but he wasted his chances and Wade wrapped up the win on double top.

Wade had also gone all the way to a sudden-death leg in his semi-final win over Denis Ovens, following earlier victories against Colin Monk, Kevin McDine, Kirk Shepherd and Adrian Gray.

The victory sees him jump above Alan Tabern into second place in the Players Championship Order of Merit for 2008, second only to Phil Taylor, who won 11 events.

Walsh dropped just two sets in reaching the quarter-finals, where he came from 2-0 down to defeat Holland's Remco van Eijden.

He then took victory in a deciding set against Peter Manley in the last four, producing legs of 11 and 14 darts to edge himself into the final.

Manley's run to the semi-finals ensured his place in January's Players Championship Finals, which features the top 32 from the 2008 Players Championship Order of Merit.

Michael van Gerwen's run to the last 16 saw him claim the 32nd place, ahead of Matt Clark on a countback.

Gray reached his first quarter-final since August, while ever-consistent Ronnie Baxter and Robert Thornton also made the last eight.

PartyPoker.net Dutch Darts Trophy (Sunday)
Preliminary Round

Elmer Kralt 3-1 Martyn Turner
Peter Wright 3-2 Hannes Schnier
Mark Walsh 3-0 Jasper Smidt
Danny de Haas Bye (Olaf Tupuschis)
Ben Burton 3-0 Freddy de Geus
Steve Beaton 3-0 David Platt
Remco van Eijden 3-0 Huseyin Zengin
Shane Passey 3-1 Mike Herold
Tony Eccles Bye (Olaf Fiss)
Matt Jackson 3-1 Rolf Kaiser
Michael Rosenauer 3-0 Co Stompe
Bjorn Bakker 3-2 Andrew Davies
Boyd Meijer 3-0 Lee White
Chris Thompson Bye (Andy Smith)
Toon Greebe 3-2 Leroy Kwadijk
Andree Welge 3-0 Tomokazu Onoda
Robert Thornton 3-0 Mensur Suljovic
James Keogh 3-2 Robert Watson-Lang
Carlos Rodriguez 3-1 Barrie Bates
Steve Hine 3-1 Dave Honey
Tomas Seyler 3-0 Jim Leighton
Jan van der Rassel 3-0 Wim Mink
Colin Monk 3-0 Paul Cooper
Kirk Shepherd 3-1 Kevin Wensink
Ron de Pijpar Bye (Bernhard Kraus)
Justin Pipe 3-0 Peter Aleman
Yves Cottenge 3-1 Steve Cusick
Nick Fulwell 3-1 Darren Johnson
Adrian Gray Bye (Alan Warriner-Little)
Lesley Geertsma 3-1 Rocco Maes
John Lokken 3-0 Steve Randall
Ian Jopling 3-1 Len Bouwman
Felix McBrearty 3-0 Dave Ladley
Wayne Jones 3-0 Jeffrey Stigter
Wayne Atwood 3-2 Mark Carter
Dylan Duo 3-1 Jonathan Overton
Louis Blundell 3-0 Edward Steggerda
Erwin Extercatte 3-0 Kevin Harris
Jamie Caven 3-2 Andy Jenkins
Willem Kralt 3-2 John Quantock
Jacko Barry 3-2 Kees Slokkers

First Round
Steve Maish 3-1 Elmer Kralt
Raymond van Barneveld 3-0 Peter Wright
Mark Walsh 3-1 Olaf Tupuschis
Mark Dudbridge 3-1 Ben Burton
Remco van Eijden 3-1 Steve Beaton
Dennis Priestley 3-0 Shane Passey
Tony Eccles 3-0 Matt Jackson
Colin Osborne 3-0 Michael Rosenauer
Michael van Gerwen 3-1 Bjorn Bakker
Wayne Mardle 3-0 Boyd Meijer
Toon Greebe 3-0 Chris Thompson
Peter Manley 3-2 Andree Welge
Robert Thornton 3-1 Matt Clark
Andy Hamilton 3-0 James Keogh
Steve Hine 3-2 Carlos Rodriguez
Kevin Painter 3-1 Tomas Seyler
Kevin McDine 3-1 Jan van der Rassel
James Wade 3-2 Colin Monk
Kirk Shepherd 3-2 Ron de Pijper
Vincent van der Voort 3-2 Justin Pipe
Wes Newton 3-1 Yves Cottenge
Nick Fulwell 3-2 Alan Tabern
Adrian Gray 3-1 Lesley Geertsma
Mervyn King 3-0 John Lokken
Mick McGowan 3-1 Ian Jopling
Colin Lloyd 3-0 Felix McBrearty
Wayne Jones 3-1 Wayne Atwood
Ronnie Baxter 3-1 Dylan Duo
Jelle Klaasen 3-1 Louis Blundell
Terry Jenkins 3-0 Erwin Extercatte
Jamie Caven 3-0 Willem Kralt
Denis Ovens 3-0 Jacko Barry
Losers £75

Second Round
Steve Maish 3-2 Raymond van Barneveld
Mark Walsh 3-1 Mark Dudbridge
Remco van Eijden 3-0 Dennis Priestley
Tony Eccles 3-1 Colin Osborne
Michael van Gerwen 3-2 Wayne Mardle
Peter Manley 3-0 Toon Greebe
Robert Thornton 3-0 Andy Hamilton 
Steve Hine 3-2 Kevin Painter
James Wade 3-1 Kevin McDine
Kirk Shepherd 3-2 Vincent van der Voort
Wes Newton 3-1 Nick Fulwell
Adrian Gray 3-2 Mervyn King
Mick McGowan 3-2 Colin Lloyd
Ronnie Baxter 3-2 Wayne Jones
Jelle Klaasen 3-2 Terry Jenkins 
Denis Ovens 3-0 Jamie Caven
Losers £150

Third Round
Mark Walsh 3-0 Steve Maish
Remco van Eijden 3-1 Tony Eccles
Peter Manley 3-2 Michael van Gerwen
Robert Thornton 3-1 Steve Hine
James Wade 3-1 Kirk Shepherd
Adrian Gray 3-2 Wes Newton
Ronnie Baxter 3-1 Mick McGowan
Denis Ovens 3-0 Jelle Klaasen
Losers £300

Quarter-Finals
Mark Walsh 3-2 Remco van Eijden (1-2, 0-2, 2-1, 2-0, 2-0)
Peter Manley 3-1 Robert Thornton (1-2, 2-0, 2-1, 2-1)
James Wade 3-0 Adrian Gray (2-1, 2-1, 2-1)
Denis Ovens 3-2 Ronnie Baxter (2-1, 1-2, 2-0, 1-2, 2-0)
Losers £600

Semi-Finals
Mark Walsh 3-2 Peter Manley (2-1, 0-2, 2-0, 0-2, 2-0)
James Wade 3-2 Denis Ovens (2-1, 0-2, 1-2, 2-1, 2-1)
Losers £1,250

Final
James Wade 3-2 Mark Walsh (1-2, 2-1, 0-2, 2-0, 2-1)
Winner £5,000
Runner-Up £2,500


News Updates
Preliminary Round

Elmer Kralt defeats Martyn Turner 3-1 to reach first round, where he meets Steve Maish.
Remco van Eijden sees off Huseyin Zengin in straight sets, with Ben Burton defeating Freddy de Geus in the same manner.
Matt Jackson, Ian Jopling, Steve Hine and Lesley Geertsma open with 3-1 victories.
Robert Thornton wins 3-0 against Austria's Mensur Suljovic and now faces Matt Clark in round one.
Wayne Atwood is a five-set winner against Mark Carter to progress.
Belgium's Yves Cottenge celebrates his return to the PDC Pro Tour with 3-1 win over Steve Cusick - cheered on by injured compatriot Erik Clarys, who is still recovering from the serious elbow injury which has sidelined him for two years.
Toon Greebe defeats Leroy Kwadijk 3-2 in a game which saw all 15 possible legs played.
Willem Kralt joins brother Elmer in round one after a narrow win over John Quantock - with both Germans defeating Yorkshiremen in the preliminary round.
Mark Walsh defeats Jasper Smidt in straight sets to move into round one.
Colin Monk's 3-0 win over Paul Cooper sets up clash with Hampshire rival James Wade.
Kirk Shepherd moves into last 64 with 3-1 win over Kevin Wensink.
Tomas Seyler sets up game against Kevin Painter with 3-0 defeat of Jim Leighton.
Michael Rosenauer condemns Co Stompe to a second preliminary round defeat of the weekend with 3-0 triumph.
Felix McBrearty and Nick Fulwell move into last 64 with wins over Dave Ladley and Darren Johnson respectively.
Peter Wright wins final-leg showdown against Hannes Schnier - and his reward is a clash with number one seed Raymond van Barneveld.
James Keogh comes from 2-0 down to defeat Robert Watson-Lang 3-2.
Jacko Barry follows Keogh's example with a five-set win over Kees Slokkers.
Wayne Jones wins 3-0 against Jeffrey Stigter.
Jamie Caven edges past Andy Jenkins in a deciding leg, punishing two missed doubles from the Portsmouth man to claim victory.

First Round
Tony Eccles is first round one winner, defeating Matt Jackson 3-0.
Mark Dudbridge, Kevin McDine and Adrian Gray take 3-1 wins over Ben Burton, Jan van der Rassel and Lesley Geertsma.
Toon Greebe overcomes Chris Thompson in straight sets.
Mick McGowan wins 3-1 against Ian Jopling to reach last 32.
Michael van Gerwen moves into second round with 3-1 win over Bjorn Bakker, and Wes Newton overcomes Yves Cottenge in the same manner.
Vincent van der Voort sees off Justin Pipe in five sets.
Dennis Priestley, Colin Lloyd and Saturday's winner Mervyn King all open with 3-0 victories.
Kevin Painter takes 3-1 win over German Tomas Seyler.
Colin Osborne's win over Michael Rosenauer sets up clash of Middlesbrough-born players against Tony Eccles in round two.
James Wade wins five-set game with Colin Monk, while Mark Walsh sets up board final with Mark Dudbridge after defeating Olaf Tupuschis 3-1.
Peter Manley punishes missed match darts from Andree Welge to come from 2-0 down to take victory.
Nick Fulwell takes 3-2 victory against Alan Tabern to move into last 32.
Terry Jenkins takes 3-0 win over Erwin Extercatte,
Ronnie Baxter wins 3-1 against Dylan Duo, and Remco van Eijden defeats Steve Beaton by the same scoreline.
Steve Hine edges past Carlos Rodriguez in five sets, while there are also wins for Andy Hamilton and Wayne Mardle.
Denis Ovens wins in straight sets against Jacko Barry.
Wayne Jones overcomes Wayne Atwood 3-1 to move into last 32.
Jamie Caven wins 3-0 against Willem Kralt in last first round game to finish.

Second Round
Adrian Gray defeats Mervyn King 3-2, while James Wade is a 3-1 winner against Kevin McDine.
Jelle Klaasen wins against Terry Jenkins for a second successive day with 3-2 victory.
Mick McGowan takes 3-2 win over Colin Lloyd.
Tony Eccles defeats Colin Osborne 3-1, with Mark Walsh seeing off Mark Dudbridge by the same scoreline.
Peter Manley takes 3-0 victory against Toon Greebe.
Michael van Gerwen's 3-2 win over Wayne Mardle means he meets Manley in the last 16.
Wes Newton defeats Nick Fulwell 3-1 to set up contest with Gray.
Holland's Remco van Eijden moves into last 16 with 3-0 defeat of Dennis Priestley.
Steve Maish comes from 2-1 down to defeat Raymond van Barneveld 3-2, taking the deciding set without reply.
Steve Hine takes out 164 to defeat Kevin Painter 3-2.
Robert Thornton wins last 16 place with 3-0 defeat of Andy Hamilton.
Denis Ovens wins in straight sets against Jamie Caven, and now meets Jelle Klaasen.
Ronnie Baxter takes final slot in last 16 after defeating Wayne Jones in five sets.

Third Round
James Wade progresses to quarter-finals with 3-1 win over Kirk Shepherd.
Adrian Gray reaches his first quarter-final since August with 3-2 defeat of Wes Newton.
Mark Walsh defeats Steve Maish in straight sets to reach last eight.
Remco van Eijden's fine run of form sees him defeat Tony Eccles 3-1 to set up quarter-final with Walsh.
Peter Manley edges deciding leg clash with Michael van Gerwen to move into last eight, taking victory after the Dutchman missed one dart at the bullseye to win. Manley's win effectively ensures his place in the Players Championship finals, while van Gerwen is likely to edge out Matt Clark on a countback.
Robert Thornton wins 3-1 against Steve Hine to set up quarter-final with Manley.
Denis Ovens takes 3-0 win over Jelle Klaasen to reach last eight.
Ronnie Baxter sets up quarter-final with Ovens after 3-1 win over Mick McGowan.

Quarter-Finals
James Wade takes straight sets win over Adrian Gray to reach semi-finals, edging all three sets 2-1.
Peter Manley comes from a set down to win a semi-final place after a 3-1 win over Robert Thornton.
Mark Walsh makes a comeback from the brink of defeat to see off Remco van Eijden 3-2 and earn a semi-final spot against Manley.
Denis Ovens wins deciding leg battle with Ronnie Baxter, taking out a 14-darter to ensure a last four berth following a tight contest.

Semi-Finals
Mark Walsh sealed his place in the final with a 3-2 win over Peter Manley in a see-saw game. Walsh won the first set against the throw, taking out double top for the first leg and 101 for the set after a 120 checkout from Manley. The Carlisle-based man landed double top to break throw in the second set's opener before another 120 checkout squared the game, only for Walsh to win set three without reply. Manley took the fourth 2-0, but Walsh landed key 180s in each leg of the deciding set and took out both 84 and 62 in two darts to seal the win.
James Wade edged a final-leg shoot-out with Denis Ovens to book his spot in the final. Wade thhk the game's first set 2-1 before Ovens, aided by 180s in successive legs, punished missed doubles from the number two seed to level. Ovens then came from a leg down to win the third set 2-1 with a 101 finish, only for Wade to reply in kind with a 128 checkout to win the fourth. Double top put Wade in front in the fifth, but a missed bullseye and two misses at double eight for the match allowed Ovens to level on double 16 and ensure a deciding leg, but Wade was stronger to take out double eight with the Hertfordshire man waiting on 36.
Wade's final with Walsh is a repeat of their meeting in the Scottish Players Championship final less than a month ago.